It’s another stacked week of new releases. American Football are back with ‘LP3’, Sleaford Mods have followed up 2017’s ‘English Tapas’ and Du Blonde has put out the spectacular ‘Lung Bread For Daddy’. Still want more? Fill your boots below.

The legendary Rod Stewart has added arena shows in Manchester, Leeds and Birmingham to his autumn tour plans, while original shock-rocker Alice Cooper will take over arenas in October for his The Ol’ Black Eyes Is Back Tour. There’s also shows announced by Irish singer-songwriter Hozier, who puts out his long-awaited second album in March, as well as Scottish musician Lewis Capaldi, who’ll embark on his biggest headline tour to date following the release of his debut album ‘Divinely Uninspired To A Hellish Extent’ this spring.

Marina, formerly known as Marina and the Diamonds, will support her new record with a spring UK tour, while the prodigious musical genius Nick Cave will bring an evening of talk and music to intimate venues in June. Alexisonfire are back with a new track, Familiar Drugs, plus a headline show at London’s Alexandra Palace. Japan’s One OK Rock, meanwhile, will bring their Eye Of The Storm Tour to Manchester and London this spring as part of a wider European trek in support of the recently released album of the same name. Lastly, fresh from hosting this week’s Brit Awards, comedian Jack Whitehall has announced his Stood Up UK and Ireland tour for November and December.

Rod Stewart

Rod Stewart has added new shows at Manchester Arena on November 23, the First Direct Arena in Leeds on December 11 and Arena Birmingham on December 13 to his autumn UK tour plans. The legendary vocalist, who released ‘Blood Red Roses’ last year, also has open air concerts lined up throughout summer. Tickets for the three new dates go on general sale at 9am on February 22, priced from £55.00 plus booking fees. Head here for pre-sale tickets.

Alice Cooper

Iconic shock-rocker will bring his Ol’ Black Eyes Is Back Tour to arenas in Manchester, Leeds, Brighton, Birmingham, Cardiff, Aberdeen for the first time ever, and London, where he’ll take over the O2 Arena on October 10. Support on all dates will come from the Stranglers and the MC50, original frontman Wayne Kramer’s celebration of 50 years of the MC5’s ‘Kick Out The Jams’ album. Tickets go on general sale at 10am on February 22, priced from £40.00 plus fees. Head here for pre-sale tickets.

Nick Cave

The Godfather of Goth has announced that he will bring his Conversations With Nick Cave Tour to the UK in June with stops lined up in Cardiff, Birmingham, London, Manchester, Edinburgh, Gateshead, Nottingham, Liverpool and Brighton. Tickets are on sale now, priced £30.00/£75.00 plus fees.

Lewis Capaldi

The Scottish singer-songwriter will embark on his biggest headline tour to date in November, following the spring release of his debut album, ‘Divinely Uninspired To A Hellish Extent’. Stops include a huge show at London’s O2 Academy Brixton and two homecoming dates at the O2 Academy Glasgow. He also calls in Dublin, Belfast, Manchester, Birmingham, Southampton, Norwich, and Edinburgh. Tickets go on general sale at 10am on February 22, priced £19.50/£22.50 plus fees.

Marina

Marina, formerly known as Marina and the Diamonds, will accompany the release of her fourth album ‘LOVE + FEAR’ with a spring UK tour. Her plans also include North American dates in the autumn. Tickets go on general sale at 10am on February 22, priced £25.00/£30.00 plus booking fees.

TRNSMT Festival with Stormzy, Catfish and the Bottlemen, and George Ezra

Stormzy, Catfish and the Bottlemen, and George Ezra lead the first annoucement for this year’s TRNSMT, with Gerry Cinnamon, Years and Years, Example, Mabel, Bastille, Richard Ashcroft, DMA’s, Sigrid, Sundara Karma, Sam Fender, Snow Patrol, Jess Glynne, the Kooks, and more set to perform at Glasgow Green between July 12 and July 14. Tickets go on general sale at 9am on February 22, priced from £59.50 plus fees.

Hozier

The Irish singer-songwriter will tour the UK this autumn in support of his long-awaited second album, ‘Wasteland, Baby!’, which is set to arrive on March 1. Hozier also performs at Cork’s Irish Independent Park and Belfast’s Ormeau Park as part of the Belsonic series in June. Tickets for the tour, meanwhile, go on general sale at 9am on February 22, priced £29.50 plus fees.

Jack Whitehall

Comedian Jack Whitehall has announced over 25 arena shows for the initial leg of his Stood Up Tour, with stops planned in Birmingham, Glasgow, Aberdeen, Nottingham, Cardiff, Sheffield, Leeds, Newcastle, Brighton, Bournemouth, Liverpool, Dublin, Belfast, Manchester and London, where he’ll play three nights at the O2 Arena. The tour currently runs between November 16 and December 22. Tickets go on general sale at 10am on February 22, priced from £20.00 plus fees. Head here for pre-sale tickets.

The legendary welsh vocalist will perform at the Royal Hospital in west London on June 15 as part of the Live At Chelsea series. Also announced for Live At Chelsea are Toto on June 13 and Gipsy Kings on June 14.

Pre-sale tickets are on sale at 10am on February 21, 24 hours ahead of general sale, priced £57.50 plus fees.

The original shock-rocker will return to the UK for his Ol’ Black Eyes Is Back Tour, playing arenas in Manchester, Leeds, Brighton, Birmingham, Cardiff and London, where he’ll take over the O2 Arena on October 10. The run also includes Cooper’s first show in Aberdeen. Support on all dates will come from the Stranglers and the MC50.

Pre-sale tickets are available from 10am on February 21, 24 hours ahead of general sale, priced £40.00 plus fees.

Rod Stewart has added shows at Manchester Arena on November 23, Leeds’ First Direct Arena on December 11 and Birmingham Arena on December 13 to his autumn and winter tour plans. The legendary vocalist also has open air concerts in the diary for spring and summer.

Pre-sale tickets for the new dates go on sale at 9am on February 21, prior to general sale at 9am on February 22, priced £55.00 plus fees.

Comedian Jack Whitehall has lined up over 25 arena shows for the initial leg of his Stood Up Tour, with stops planned in Birmingham, Glasgow, Aberdeen, Nottingham, Cardiff, Sheffield, Leeds, Newcastle, Brighton, Bournemouth, Liverpool, Dublin, Belfast, Manchester and London, where he’ll play three nights at the O2 Arena. The tour currently runs between November 16 and December 22.

Pre-sale opens at 10am on February 20, prior to general sale at 10am on February 22.

Yes, you heard that right. Sting and Shaggy’s collaboration continues to be very real. The unlikely duo will tour the UK together this spring, with tickets for the shows on sale now, priced £33.00/£55.00 plus fees.

The pair have confirmed four dates for the UK leg of their The ’44/876′ Tour, which shares its name with their joint album, which recently picked up the gong for Best Reggae Album at the 61st annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles. The run will kick off on May 19 at London’s Roundhouse with additional stops lined up in Newcastle, Birmingham and Manchester.

Both artists will be joined on stage by Sting’s longtime collaborators Dominic Miller, Josh Freese, and Rufus Miller, as well as Shaggy’s band members Melissa Musique, Gene Noble and Kevon Webster. Head below to view the video for their current “Caribbean-flavoured”single, Gotta Get Back My Baby.

Has anyone else noticed that it’s no longer DARK ALL THE TIME? Driving to work in daylight is a godsend. Smiles and sunshine all round from now on, please. It’s almost the weekend, and your favourite blog post is strictly POSITIVE VIBES ONLY.

Tacocat – Grains of Salt

“Don’t forget to remember who the fuck you are!” Wise words from vocalist Emily Nokes of the indie surf-pop band Tacocat — one of the best names in the business. The twangy guitar-led track is the first cut from their upcoming album, ‘This Mess Is A Place’, which will arrive on May 3.

And, if room temperature milk, dyed blue, stood in giant wine glasses while some of Seattle’s best performers bust a move is your thing — because why wouldn’t it be? — be sure to check out the colourful video!

Nile Rodgers Curating Meltdown Festival

It’s time to freak out. The funk legend has been confirmed to curate the 2019 instalment of Meltdown Festival, and it’s gonna be huuuugeeeeee. The 26th edition of the event will take place at the Southbank Centre in London, with acts selected especially by the producer, songwriter, musician, composer, guitarist and sonic trendsetter Mr Rodgers himself, of course synonymous with the 1970s disco band CHIC.

Meltdown has previously been helmed by Robert Smith of the Cure, M.I.A, Guy Garvey, Patti Smith, Nick Cave, Yoko Ono, David Bowie, and Massive Attack, to name a few.

Of this prestigious position, he noted:

“To be able to curate and produce nine days of live music for the city of London, the UK and music enthusiasts visiting from all over the world is truly a dream come true. Anyone who knows my career knows that Funk, Disco, Jazz, Soul, Classical, POP, New Wave, R&B, Fusion, Punk Rock, Afrobeat, Electronic and Dance music all play a role and you can expect that to be reflected in the performances we are planning.”

The Dirty Nil – Pain of Infinity Video

The Canadian punk trio have released another wacky video. If you like punks playing guitars and eating doughnuts, I’m sure you’ll like grim reapers playing guitars and eating doughnuts. Struggling at work to get their soul count up, the slackers end up hotboxing and playing their catchy song in the woods rather than doing any work. Don’t go getting any ideas, though…

Unless the idea is making a last minute trip to London tonight to catch their headline show at the Moth Club, which unbelievably is not yet sold out.

It’s another busy one. The Queen Of Funk, aka Chaka Khan, has put out her first new full-length in 12 years, skate-punk legends Millencolin have dropped the follow up to 2015’s ‘True Brew’ and the Bay Area band SWMRS have released their second album.